Educational Science

Shiny Giant Clams May Inspire New Solar Tech

Brilliant shades of blue and aqua coat the iridescent lips of giant clams, but these shiny cells aren't just for show, new research finds. The iridescent sheen directs beams of sunlight into the interior of the clam, providing light for algae housed inside. In a symbiotic return, the algae use...

Chlamydia is killing Australia's koalas, but ambitious new project could stop the spread

Conservationists in Australia have begun vaccinating wild koalas against a highly contagious and deadly form of chlamydia. In recent decades, the marsupials have been plagued with a destructive strain of chlamydia, which belongs to a closely related species of the sexually-transmitted disease in humans. In koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), chlamydia causes...

The chances of aquatic mammals — like orcas, bottlenose dolphins and whales — ever evolving to live on land again are almost nonexistent, a new study has found. Researchers discovered that the adaptations that allowed these animals to live in water have passed an evolutionary threshold that marks the point...

This sea slug can chop off its head and grow an entire new body, twice

Two species of sea slugs can pop off their heads and regrow their entire bodies from the noggin down, scientists in Japan recently discovered. This incredible feat of regeneration can be achieved in just a couple of weeks and is absolutely mind-blowing. Most cases of animal regeneration — replacing damaged...

Gila Monster Photos: The Sluggish and Scaly Sweethearts of the American Desert

Modern-day monsters (Image credit: Linda & Dr. Dick Buscher)Monsters live in the normally dry, desert landscapes of the Mojave, Sonoran and Chihuahuan Deserts of the southwestern United States and northwestern arid regions of Mexico. They belong to an ancient family of lizards called Helodermatidae which is a class of venomous...

Patagonian mara: The monogamous rodents that mate only a few times a year but pee on each other constantly

Name: Patagonian mara (Dolichotis patagonum) Where it lives: Arid grasslands and brush lands in central and southern Argentina What it eats: Grasses, cacti, seeds, fruits, flowers and its own dung Why it's awesome: Patagonian maras mate for life, and males are fiercely protective of their partners, following them wherever they...

Mangrove leaf slug: The solar-powered mollusk that gobbles up sunlight then goes months without eating

Name: Mangrove leaf slug (Elysia bangtawaensis) Where it lives: Shallow pools of water in the mangrove forests and swamps of southeast Asia and Australia What it eats: The content of tiny algal cells Why it's awesome: In addition to looking like a starry night sky, this fabulous slug belongs to...

Prairie vole orgasms 'rewire' their brains for long-term love

Scientists have discovered that orgasms rewire the brains of fuzzy little rodents called prairie voles, helping them to bond and form long-term monogamous relationships. The research provides an insight into how sex, intimacy and the formation of enduring attachments can trigger a cascade of activity in parts of the brain...

Platypus facts

The platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) is one of the most unusual creatures in the animal kingdom. The platypus has a paddle-shaped tail, like a beaver; a sleek, furry body, like an otter; and a flat bill and webbed feet, like a duck. In fact, the first time a stuffed platypus was...

'Should not really exist in these waters': Scientists spot gray whale, thought to be extinct in the Atlantic, off Massachusetts coast

Scientists experienced an incredibly rare event last week when they saw a gray whale cruising through New England's coastal waters. The gray whale (Eschrichtius robustus) was believed to be extinct in this part of the Atlantic Ocean; the species has not been spotted there in more than 200 years, according...